"The War with Mexico"

North Star Editorial (January 21, 1848)

Here1 the North Star, the abolitionist newspaper edited in
Rochester, New York, by Frederick Douglass, argues the case against
the war on Mexico, highlighting not only the question of slavery, but
the class dimension of the war, as well.

From Voices of A People's History, edited by Zinn and Arnove

From aught that appears in the present position and movements of the
executive and cabinet—the proceedings of either branch of the
national Congress,—the several State Legislatures, North and
South—the spirit of the public press—the conduct of
leading men, and the general views and feelings of the people of the
United States at large, slight hope can rationally be predicated of a
very speedy termination of the present disgraceful, cruel, and
iniquitous war with our sister republic. Mexico seems a doomed victim
to Anglo Saxon cupidity and love of dominion. The determination of
our slaveholding President to prosecute the war, and the probability
of his success in wringing from the people men and money to carry it
on, is made evident, rather than doubtful, by the puny opposition
arrayed against him. No politician of any considerable distinction or
eminence, seems willing to hazard his popularity with his party, or
stem the fierce current of executive influence, by an open and
unqualified disapprobation of the war. None seem willing to take
their stand for peace at all risks; and all seem willing that the
war should be carried on, in some form or other. If any oppose the
President's demands, it is not because they hate the war, but for
want of information as to the aims and objects of the war. The
boldest declaration on this point is that of Hon. John P. Hale, which
is to the effect that he will not vote a single dollar to the
President for carrying on the war, until he shall be fully informed
of the purposes and objects of the war. Mr. Hale knows, as well as
the President can inform him, for what the war is waged; and yet he
accompanies his declaration with that prudent proviso. This shows how
deep seated and strongly bulwarked is the evil against which we
contend. The boldest dare not fully grapple with it.

Meanwhile, "the plot thickens"—the evil spreads. Large demands
are made on the national treasury (to wit: the poor mans pockets)[.]
Eloquent and patriotic speeches are made in the Senate, House of
Representatives and State Assemblies: Whig as well as Democratic
governors stand stoutly up for the war: experienced and hoary-headed
statesmen tax their declining strength and ingenuity in devising ways
and means for advancing the infernal work: recruiting sergeants and
corporals perambulate the land in search of victims for the sword and
food for powder. Wherever there is a sink of iniquity, or a den of
pollution* these buzzards may be found in search of their filthy
prey. They dive into the rum shop, and gambling house, and other
sinks too infamous to name, with a swine-like avidity, in pursuit of
degraded men to vindicate the insulted honor of our Christian
country. Military chieftains and heroes multiply, and towering high
above the level of common men, are glorified, if not deified, by the
people. The whole nation seems to "wonder after these (bloody)
beasts." Grasping ambition, tyrannic usurpation, atrocious
aggression, cruel and haughty pride, spread, and pervade the land.
The curse is upon us. The plague is abroad. No part of the country
can claim entire exemption from its evils. They may be seen as well
in the State of New York, as in South Carolina; on the Penobscot, as
on the Sabine. The people appear to be completely in the hands of
office seekers, demagogues, and political gamblers. Within the
bewildering meshes of their political nets, they are worried,
confused, and confounded, so that a general outcry is heard—"Vigorous
prosecution of the war!"—"Mexico must be
humbled!"—"Conquer a peace!"—"Indemnity!"—"War
forced upon us!"— "National honor!"—"The
whole of Mexico!"—"Our destiny!"—"This
continent!"—"Anglo Saxon blood!"—"More
territory!"—"Free institutions!"— "Our
country!" till it seems indeed "that justice has fled to
brutish beasts, and men have lost their reason." The taste of
human blood and the smell of powder seem to have extinguished the
senses, seared the conscience, and subverted the reason of the people
to a degree that may well induce the gloomy apprehension that our
nation has fully entered on her downward career, and yielded
herself up to the revolting idea of battle and blood. "Fire and
sword," are now the choice of our young republic. The loss of
thousands of her own men, and the slaughter of tens of thousands of
the sons and daughters of Mexico, have rather given edge than
dullness to our appetite for fiery conflict and plunder. The
civilization of the age, the voice of the world, the sacredness of
human life, the tremendous expense, the dangers, hardships, and the
deep disgrace which must forever attach to our inhuman course, seem
to oppose no availing check to the mad spirit of proud ambition,
blood, and carnage, let loose in the land.

We
have no preference for parties, regarding this slaveholding crusade.
The one is as bad as the other. The friends of peace have nothing to
hope from either. The Democrats claim the credit of commencing, and
the Whigs monopolize the glory of voting supplies and carrying on the
war; branding the war as dishonorably commenced, yet boldly
persisting in pressing it on. If we have any preference of two such
parties, that preference inclines to the one whose practice, though
wicked, most accords with its professions. We know where to find the
so called Democrats. They are the accustomed panderers to
slaveholders: nothing is either too mean, too dirty, or infamous for
them, when commanded by the merciless man stealers of our country. No
one expects any thing honorable or decent from that party, touching
human rights. They annexed Texas under the plea of extending the area
of freedom. They elected James K. Polk, the slaveholder, as the
friend of freedom; and they have backed him up in his Presidential
falsehoods. They have used their utmost endeavors to crush the right
of speech, abridge the right of petition, and to perpetuate the
enslavement of the colored people of this country. But we do not
intend to go into any examination of parties just now. That we shall
have frequent opportunities of doing hereafter. We wish merely to
give our readers a general portrait of the present aspect of our
country in regard to the Mexican war, its designs, and its results,
as they have thus far transpired.

Of the settled determination to prosecute the war, there can be no
doubt: Polk has avowed it; his organs have published it; his
supporters have rallied round him; all their actions bend in that
direction; and every effort is made to establish their purpose firmly
in the hearts of the people, and to harden their hearts for the
conflict. All danger must be defied; all suffering despised; all
honor eschewed; all mercy dried up; and all the better promptings of
the human soul blunted, silenced and repudiated, while all the furies
of hell are invoked to guide our hired assassins,— our
man-killing machines,—now in and out of Mexico, to the infernal
consummation. Qualities of head and heart, principles and maxims,
counsels and warnings, which once commanded respect, and secured a
nations reverence, must all now be scouted; sense of decency must be
utterly drowned: age nor sex must exercise any humanizing effect upon
our gallant soldiers, or restrain their Satanic designs. The groans
of slaughtered men, the screams of violated women, and the cries of
orphan children, must bring no throb of pity from our national heart,
but must rather serve as music to inspire our gallant troops to deeds
of atrocious cruelty, lust, and blood. The work is thus laid out,
commenced, and is to be continued. Where it will end is known only to
the Great Ruler of the Universe; but where the responsibility rests,
and upon whom retribution will fall, is sure and certain.

In watching the effects of the war spirit, prominent among them, will be
seen, not only the subversion of the great principles of Christian
morality, but the most horrid blasphemy.

While traveling from Rochester to Victor, a few days ago, we listened to a
conversation between two persons of apparent gentility and
intelligence, on the subject of the United States' war against
Mexico. A wide difference of opinion appeared between them; the one
contending for the rightfulness of the war, and the other against it.
The main argument in favor of the war was the meanness and wickedness
of the Mexican people; and, to cap the climax, he gave it as his
solemn conviction, that the hand of the Lord was in the world that
the cup of Mexican iniquity was full; and that God was now making use
of the Anglo Saxon race as a rod to chastise them! The effect of this
religious outburst was to stun his opponent into silence: he seemed
speechless; the ground was too high and holy for him; he did not dare
reply to it; and thus the conversation ended. When men charge their
sins upon God, argument is idle; rebuke alone is needful; and the
poor man, lacking the moral courage to do this, sat silent.

Here, then, we have religion coupled with our murderous designs. We are, in
the hands of the great God, a rod to chastise this rebellious people!
What say our evangelical clergy to this blasphemy? That clergy seem
as silent as the grave; and their silence is the greatest sanction of
the crime. They have seen the blood of the innocent poured out like
water, and are dumb; they have seen the truth trampled in the
dust—right sought by pursuing the wrong—peace sought by
prosecuting the war—honor sought by dishonorable means,—and
have not raised a whisper against it: they float down with the
multitude in the filthy current of crime, and are hand in hand with
the guilty. Had the pulpit been faithful, we might have been saved
from this withering curse. We sometimes fear, that now our case as a
nation is hopeless. May God grant otherwise! Our nation seems
resolved to rush on in her wicked career, though the road be ditched
with human blood, and paved with human skulls. Well, be it so. But,
humble as we are, and unavailing as our voice may be, we wish to warn
our fellow countrymen, that they may follow the course which they
have marked out for themselves; no barrier may be sufficient to
obstruct them; they may accomplish all they desire; Mexico may fall
before them; she may be conquered and subdued; her government may be
annihilated— her name among the great sisterhood of nations
blotted out; her separate existence annihilated; her rights and
powers usurped; her people put under the iron arm of a military
despotism, and reduced to a condition little better than that endured
by the Saxons when vanquished by their Norman invaders; but, so sure
as there is a God of justice, we shall not go unpunished; the
penalty is certain; we cannot escape; a terrible retribution awaits
us. We beseech our countrymen to leave off this horrid conflict,
abandon their murderous plans, and forsake the way of blood.
Peradventure our country may yet be saved. Let the press, the pulpit,
the church, the people at large, unite at once; and let petitions
flood the halls of Congress by the million, asking for the instant
recall of our forces from Mexico. This may not save us, but it is our
only hope.

Footnotes

1 North
5W Editorial, The War with Mexico" (January 21,1848). In the
North Star (Rothester, New York), January 21. 1848.